Song of the Violet Chasuble Forgiveness is the fragrance of the violet which still clings fast to the heel that crushed it. — George Roemisch (also attributed to Mark Twain) Our pious parish priest would always wear a violet chasuble to Mass in Lent, leading his credulous, faithful flock in prayer, urging us to reflect. And to repent. But when I learned what Father Burns had done --too late! A half a century too late!-- beliefs fell by the wayside, one by one, replaced with nothing left to celebrate. Though God may pity and indulge the soul with gifts of mercies temporal and divine, I sing no grace notes for the fiend who stole a young boy’s life, and so rescinded mine. An emblematic vestment of regret hangs in a sacristy we can’t forget.
Catherine Chandler is the author of six books of poetry, including Lines of Flight (Able Muse Press, 2011), shortlisted for the Poets’ Prize, and The Frangible Hour (University of Evansville Press), winner of the 2016 Richard Wilbur Award. She also won the Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award in 2010, as well as being among the finalists over a dozen times. Her poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize on nine occasions. Her latest book, Annals of the Dear Unknown (Kelsay Books, 2022), a creative historical verse-tale, has just been released. More information is available on her poetry blog, The Wonderful Boat.
Pulsebeat Poetry Journal 